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Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Commission Meeting to Be Held July 23

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Guest Columnist
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The 61st annual meeting of the Kansas–Oklahoma Arkansas River Commission (KOARC) will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Bartlesville, located at 205 SW Frank Phillips Blvd, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, July 23, at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting will be open to the public. Anyone interested in water-related activities within the lower Arkansas River basin in Kansas and Oklahoma is encouraged to attend the meeting.

Kansas and Oklahoma entered the Arkansas River Compact in 1965. The purposes of the Compact are to promote interstate comity, to equitably divide and promote the orderly development of the waters of the lower Arkansas River basin, to provide an agency for administering the waters of the basin, and to encourage an active pollution abatement program in each state.

The Compact Commission is composed of three commissioners appointed by the Governor of Kansas and three commissioners appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma; it is chaired by a federal representative appointed by the President of the United States.

Questions about the meeting can be addressed to Lizzie Hickman, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, at 785-564-6679 or [email protected]. Additional information about KOARC and the annual meeting can be found on the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/KOARC.

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WHAT:           Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact Commission Annual Meeting
WHO:              Open to the public
WHEN:           Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
WHERE:         Hilton Garden Inn Bartlesville
205 SW Frank Phillips Blvd, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Governor Kelly Updates Declaration of Drought Emergency, Warnings, and Watches for Kansas Counties

By
Guest Columnist
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Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation approving updated drought declarations for Kansas counties.

Scattered heavy rainfall events this past month, especially in south central and south eastern areas of the state, have led to localized improvements to ongoing drought and abnormal dryness. The overall drought conditions in Kansas are showing signs of modest relief, particularly in the southern region, but lingering dry spells persist across much of northern Kansas.

“Recent rains have improved drought conditions in parts of the state this past month, but it is important to remain drought-aware as we get further into the summer months,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “As extreme heat persists, I urge Kansans to be mindful of water conservation in daily life and stay prepared to respond to the quickly-changing impacts of drought on health, agriculture, and wildlife across our state.”

The drought declaration removed 42 counties from a drought status and placed 16 counties into warning status and 47 counties into watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

In some areas that were missed by heavier rains this past month, temperatures ranging from 4-8 degrees hotter than normal have led to degrading conditions such as low streamflows and soil moisture levels.

“We had the wettest May since 2022 in some localized areas, but the long-term effects of drought are still prevalent in other parts of the state,” said Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. “The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Governor Kelly as conditions change.”

This proclamation shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by a proclamation ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.

Effective immediately, the proclamation:

  • Declares a Drought Emergency, Warning, or Watch for the counties as identified below;
  • Authorizes and directs all agencies under the jurisdiction of the governor to implement the appropriate watch, warning, or emergency-level drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans. Kansans are encouraged to report drought-related conditions and impacts in their region through the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) system.

For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas Water Office website at kwo.ks.gov.

County Drought Stage Declarations:

Drought Emergency: None.

 Drought Warning: Atchison, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Decatur, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Norton, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Washington.

Drought Watch: Barton, Cheyenne, Dickinson, Douglas, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Geary, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Johnson, Kearny, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Morris, Ness, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Scott, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Thomas, Trego, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Wichita, Wyandotte.

Trump Administration Announces Expedited Congressionally Mandated Disaster Assistance for Farmers

By
Guest Columnist
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Washington, D.C., July 9, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins
announced today that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses
due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in
assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).

To expedite the implementation of SDRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is
delivering assistance in two stages. This first stage is open to producers with
eligible crop losses that received assistance under crop insurance or the
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program during 2023 and 2024. Stage
One sign up will start in person at FSA county offices on July 10 and prefilled
applications are being mailed to producers today, July 9. SDRP Stage Two
signups for eligible shallow or uncovered losses will begin in early fall.

“American farmers are no stranger to natural disasters that cause losses that
leave no region or crop unscathed. Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA
has worked around the clock to deliver this relief directly to our farmers,” said
Secretary Rollins. “We are taking swift action to ensure farmers will have the
resources they need to continue to produce the safest, most reliable, and most
abundant food supply in the world.”

This announcement follows Secretary Rollins’ comprehensive plan to deliver the
total amount of Congressionally appropriated $30 billion in disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers this year. These programs will complement the
forthcoming state block grants that USDA is working with 14 different states to
develop. This expeditious timeline is in direct contrast to the Biden
Administration’s USDA where disaster relief programs took an average of 13
months—and in one case 19 months—to reach farmers and ranchers.

To date, USDA has issued more than $7.8 billion in Emergency Commodity
Assistance Program (ECAP) payments to more than half a million eligible
producers. Additionally, USDA has provided over $1 billion in emergency relief
through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program to producers who suffered
grazing losses due to drought or wildfires in calendar years 2023 and 2024.

USDA disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, including the
Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, Loan
Assistance Tool, and the FarmRaise online FSA education hub. Payment details
will be updated here weekly. For more information, contact your local USDA
Service Center.

Program Details:
SDRP Stage One
FSA is launching a streamlined, pre-filled application process for eligible crop,
tree, and vine losses by leveraging existing Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program (NAP) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) indemnified loss data. The
pre-filled applications will be mailed on July 9, 2025.

Eligibility
Eligible losses must be the result of natural disasters occurring in calendar years
2023 and/or 2024. These disasters include wildfires, hurricanes, floods,
derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar
vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related
conditions.

To qualify for drought related losses, the loss must have occurred in a county
rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe drought) for eight
consecutive weeks, D3 (extreme drought), or greater intensity level during the
applicable calendar year.

Producers in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and Massachusetts will not be eligible
for SDRP program payments. Instead, these states chose to cover eligible crop,
tree, bush, and vine losses through separate block grants. These block grants are
funded through the $220M provided for this purpose to eligible states in the
American Relief Act.

How to Apply
To apply for SDRP, producers must submit the FSA-526, Supplemental Disaster

Relief Program (SDRP) Stage One Application, in addition to having other forms on
file with FSA.
SDRP Stage One Payment Calculation
Stage One payments are based on the SDRP adjusted NAP or Federal crop
insurance coverage level the producer purchased for the crop. The net NAP or
net federal crop insurance payments (NAP or crop insurance indemnities minus
administrative fees and premiums) will be subtracted from the SDRP calculated
payment amount.

For Stage One, the total SDRP payment to indemnified producers will not exceed
90% of the loss and an SDRP payment factor of 35% will be applied to all Stage
One payments. If additional SDRP funds remain, FSA may issue a second
payment.

Future Insurance Coverage Requirements
All producers who receive SDRP payments are required to purchase federal crop
insurance or NAP coverage for the next two available crop years at the 60%
coverage level or higher. Producers who fail to purchase crop insurance for the
next two available crop years will be required to refund the SDRP payment, plus
interest, to USDA.

SDRP Stage 2
FSA will announce additional SDRP assistance for uncovered losses, including
non-indemnified shallow losses and quality losses and how to apply later this fall.

Day 12, Final Kansas Wheat Harvest Report

By
Guest Columnist
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Kansas Wheat

Contact: Marsha Boswell, [email protected]

For audio version, visit kswheat.com.

 

This is day 12 and the final day of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

 

The Kansas wheat harvest is 93 percent complete, near 96 percent complete last year, but ahead of 88 percent average, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report for the week ending July 13, 2025.

 

Overall yields for the 2025 crop ranged from slightly below average to excellent, depending on region and weather impacts. While many areas reported strong test weights and good protein levels, rain during harvest lowered grain quality in some locations, leading to yield losses and occasional field abandonment.

 

Erik Lange, Executive Vice President / Chief Operations Officer for MKC and Interim General Manager for Producer Ag, LLC — a grain marketing joint venture between Mid-Kansas Cooperative (MKC) and CHS Inc. — broke down this year’s wheat harvest for their 55 locations in 8 regions across the state of Kansas.

 

“We’ve been two days from done for the past 20 days,” said Lange, adding that the rain is welcome, but the timing has affected wheat quality and efforts to take harvest in. “Overall, it has been a good harvest, meeting or exceeding expectations from a yield standpoint.”

 

In the CHS southern plains region of Greeley, Wallace, Logan and Wichita counties, this year’s wheat quality is good, with test weights averaging over 60 pounds per bushel. Protein is averaging 11.75%, and yields are average to above average, with some pockets a little lower due to drought and stand issues at seeding.

 

In Seward and Meade counties, test weights are averaging 60.5 pounds per bushel. Protein is averaging 11%, and yields were excellent, above average except for some isolated areas with early season drought and stand issues.

 

In south central Kansas, Sumner, Harper and Cowley counties, test weights have dropped after rains on the ripe wheat, but the region is averaging 58 pounds per bushel. Protein is averaging 11%, and yields are varied by location — average to slightly below average overall. There was some spots with wheat streak mosaic and related viruses that caused yield and quality loss. Early season drought and stand issues also affected yields. Locations are still taking grain in south central and central Kansas and hope to be finished by mid-week.

 

In Reno, Harvey, Butler, Sedgwick and southern Marion counties, test weights have been affected by the rains, ending with an average of 57.5 pounds per bushel. Protein averaged 10.9%. This region — especially the northern parts — was above average, with great yields, good stands and good grain fill conditions.

 

In McPherson, Rice and northern Marion counties, there were some exceptional yields, due to good grain fill conditions and the cool, wet spring. Test weights average 57.7 pounds and protein is 12%. However, due to rains during harvest, there are some fields in McPherson and Sumner counties that will be abandoned and not harvested.

 

Yields have been good to excellent in the Dickinson/Clay county region, however, there was some WSMV in the southern part of the area that caused up to 30 to 40 percent yield loss. Test weights averaged 58 ½ – 59 pounds and protein was 11.5%.

 

In northeast Kansas, yields were excellent in northern Pottawatomie County and good in Riley and Wabaunsee counties, but only a small fraction of wheat is grown in this area. Test weights averaged 57.5 to 58 after rain on mature wheat, and they don’t test protein in this region.

 

In the Mid-West Fertilizer region of Labette and Neosho counties, both hard and soft wheat yields were average to below average and quality suffered from rain during harvest, with some wheat laying down. Test weights have been challenged by the rain on mature wheat, and there is some abandonment.

 

The 2025 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

 

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Fresh Fruit Salsa

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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Every time I have this big list of what I’m going to get accomplished over the weekend, something pops into play .Bumping my well-slayed attack plan down the tubes. Friday I walked into Walmart and there were 3 roasted chickens for around $2.00, yes, that’s what I said two dollars! Shift gears, make time to pick hens, bundle and freeze. Then; prepare bone broth allowing time to get it bagged before going to bed.

Next; I’m reading our local marketplace and a family has sugar and cream corn for sale. I don’t usually put up corn, but I ordered a few dozen, and I’m going to blanch, ice water chill, cut and freeze a few containers. I haven’t done that in ages. I was going to Galena on business Monday morning anyway, might as well grab the corn on the way! Anyone remember the waxy white containers that reminded you of a cream container, which we used to freeze corn? I need to check with my daughter-in-law to be, she may want her corn frozen in jars instead of plastic.

I was doing miscellaneous things at the computer and saw my super simple recipe for fruit salsa. Decided to run it because the weather for this coming week is going upward, and we might need some crisp foods to help cool us out. Other refreshing foods might be pasta salads, spinach salads, tuna, beef or chicken salads. This is also a great time to use pre-frozen foods that you have prepared in advance.

Originally, the fruit salsa was served over a breast of chicken, cooked on the grill, with a side of rice. I enjoyed the fruit salsa so much that I served it solo with tortilla chips. For a healthier/lighter approach I would make the chips by baking shells myself. If there’s a chance the red onion could over power too much and you’re afraid some people won’t be able to eat the fresh onion, (like me), do some prepping the night before. Prepare the red onion the night before and soak it in the refrigerator in a bowl of ice water with just a hint of vinegar. (Rinse well and pat dry.) This will pull out the bite, and those, like myself, just may be able to eat the onion too! This my friends, is the sign of a good host. Not to be patting myself on the back, not meant that way. But a good hostess thinks ahead to the needs of every guest. There are

many foods which cause reactions, and let’s face it, onions can do that, so can peppers, spices, you get the idea.

Chop your fruit for the salsa much smaller than you might if you were preparing this to go over grilled chicken. When eating salsa you will need the small pieces for scooping, with the entree format you need to be able to poke the fruit with a fork.

Our nephew is headed our way next week as the temperatures make their climb. Looks like we will plan early morning and evening events. I don’t tolerate the higher temps very well. One more little tip before I set the salsa in place. This past Friday we had hamburgers we cooked on Monday. We re-heated them in the steamer, they were so delicious, I wouldn’t have been embarrassed to serve them to guests.

Take time to listen this week. Be silent and soak in what surrounds you instead. Simply yours, The Covered Dish.

Fruit Salsa

Soy sauce

Red Onion, chopped

Kiwi, strawberry, mango, papaya, pineapple or banana sliced or chunked

Seasoning Salt

Pepper

Cilantro

Prepare fresh fruits in chunks and slices. Sprinkle lightly with a seasoning salt or even omit. Chop red onion into small pieces and mix into the fruits. Add as much cilantro as you desire along with fresh ground pepper. Shake in a few shots of soy sauce perhaps using the lower sodium options. Serve with homemade chips made from pita or soft burrito shells. Fresh ginger might also be an option for the fruit.

In the original recipe this is served with chicken that has been marinated in soy sauce and crushed pineapple. It’s cooked on the grill and then everything is served with a side of rice.

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